Carbonated water dispensing nozzle



March 19, 1968 R. A. YUZA CARBONATED WATER DISPENSING NOZZLE Filed April 1-1, 1966 FIG.|

I NVEN TOR. RUDOLPH A. YUZA HA BAUGH and THOMAS AIT YS.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,373,937 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 7 3,373,937 CARBONATED WATER DISPENSING NOZZLE Rudolph A. Yuza, Westchester, Ill., assignor to The Bastian Blessing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 541,548 9 Claims. (Cl. 239'-11) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carbonated water dispenser in which concentric sleeves are closely spaced in a radial direction to provide a nonturbulating and nonaccelerating flow at a gravity flow rate during dispensing operation and a capillary action during resting conditions for retaining CO gas in the carbonated water while lowering the pressure thereon to atmospheric pressure for use.

The present invention relates to an improved carbonated water dispensing nozzle for beverages which economically maintains higher content of CO than attained by commercial dispensing heads and contemplates a comparatively inexpensive construction which is easily assembled both for original and replacement dispensing equipment.

Background In the process of dispensing carbonated water or beverages from a soda fountain, a carbonator prepares :a solution of CO in Water at a low temperature, and under pressure furnished by portable Cylinders of pressurized CO gas. The higher the pressure the greater the initial content, and also the greater the danger of losing the CO from the Water before the beverage is made. The chief problem is to minimize the loss of CO between the carbonator and the receptacle in which the beverage is made. Because of the loss and the expense of compressed CO gas, theproprietor vending the drink is the one that ultimately determines the concentration being dispensed. If there is a high loss in inefficient dispensing nozzles there is the practical consideration that there is no profit in making a high concentration only to lose the benefits therefor as far as the end product is concerned. A lesser concentration with a lower loss is substituted and although the beverages are rather flat, the profit margin is more pleasing.

Developments Heretofore, inexpensive carbonated water dispensers have been provided which by way of example employ compressed sponge-type inserts. Astack of washers with radially widening passages between them has also been suggested, but either one of these can be quickly adjusted by the proprietor for economy of CO when he learns of losses that affect profits. Furthermore, washers initiate the pressure drop at their minor diameter thereby generating a turbulence of high rate pressure flow.

Loss of carbonation is due primarily to the turbulence conventionally incurred with the carbonated water as the pressure thereon is lowered from carbonator pressure to atmospheric pressure when being dispensed. A secondary turbulence occurs when mixing the carbonated water with a syrup. The control of the latter is a matter of education of personnel mixing the drink, but the former has been an enduring problem, reference being made hereby to Mendonca No. 2,657,952 for further discussion of various aspects of the problem.

Summary of invention In the present invention a plurality of telescoping longitudinally coextensive sleeves of different diameters, but of like wall thickness, are provided that are suitable for replacement as well as original equipment in draft arm nozzles. Their optimum length is substantially double their composite average radius, and their Wall thickness and spacing are such that an approximately .0015" spacing is provided between the nested walls of the sleeves for the flow of carbonated water in thin annular columns at a volume rate of flow which has already been established. The concentric passages receive quiescent carbonated Water from a plenum supplied with carbonated water from a flow regulating conduit means and pass it on to a radially disposed and radially expanding discharge passage without any acceleration of flow.

An object of the invention is to lower the pressure upon carbonated water to atmospheric pressure at a flow rate equivalent to a gravity flow rate through closely spaced cylindrical walls which rely essentially upon low shear friction for flow control without turbulence before it is released to atmosphere.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a desired quantity of flow that is substantially non-turbulent and free falling without further shear friction. This quantity of carbonated water is divided into a plurality of thin annular passages whose shear friction effect upon the flow is minimized by a slow relative rate of flow that is constant for the length of the passages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flow rate reducing region for carbonated water under pressure where it will flow from one plenum to another through a plurality of narrow passages whose total flow area is at least double the flow area of the supply conduit and be tween walls spaced approximately .0015 which substitute forces of capillary action for shear friction forces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flow area in which the distance between walls through which carbonated water passes is small enough that during resting conditions CO present in the Water between the walls will be retained in the water within the flow area at atmospheric pressure to substantially eliminate dripping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a constant rate and straight line flow of carbonated water under a light frictional non-turbulence between closely spaced walls during the time any pressure upon the carbonated water is dropped to zero gauge pressure.

These being among the objects of the invention, other and further objects will be apparent from the description relating thereto taken in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention mounted on a cabinet for dispensing carbonated Water from a carbonator in the cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation partly in section showing the structure of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 33 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in further detail, a cabinet 10 having a refrigerated space 12 has mounted therein a carbonator 14 which is conventionally supplied with water and CO (not shown) to produce carbonation water at p.s.i. therein. The carbonated water is conducted by a supply conduit 16 through a draft arm 18 to a solenoid valve (FIG. 2) controlled by a switch arm 22 which, whenever it is pushed towards the draft arm, energizes the coil 24 to open the valve. The carbonated water passes through flow rate control conduits 28 in the head 26 to a cavity 30 in the lower face of the head for ultimate discharge through the nozzle 32 into a receptacle (not shown) manually held therebelow.

The nozzle embodying the invention includes a plenum 34 located at the top of the cavity 30. The plenum is closed at the bottom by a plurality of concentrically telescoped cylindrical sleeves 36 defining axially disposed concentric passages 38 between adjacent pairs of sleeves. The passages have a radial width too narrow for economical drilling, preferably between .001" and .002". The lower ends of the sleeves are supported on radiating lands 40 which are approximately .015" high on the top of a bottom support 42. A peripheral sleeve 43, enclosing the sleeves is sealed at its upper end by a washer 44 under compression with the lower side and is also supported upon the lands 40 and providing therewith an opening releasing the carbonated water to atmosphere.

A central hollow stud 46 is threaded to the housing at the top of the cavity and provides a conduit 47 for either a fine jet of carbonated water or syrup. It has a downwardly facing shoulder 48 at the top thereof and is threaded adjacent its lower end to receive a nut 50 thereon. An inner sleeve 52 resting at one end on the lands 40 and engaging the shoulder 48 at the other end serves as a spacer determining the depth of the plenum 34 when the nut 50 is tightened to hold the sleeve 43 in clamped position.

Around the mouth of the cavity 30, the housing is internally threaded to receive a transparent tapering nozzle 54 which collects all fluids which are discharged within the nozzle from the top of the bottom support 42 and directs them downwardly into a glass therebelow.

By way of example and not by way of limitation, the preferred embodiment of the inventive concept herein disclosed, contemplates two conduits 28 each having a diameter of approximately .0625". The total flow area of these conduits is approximately .006 of a square inch and they determine the flow rate of carbonated water to the plenum 34 with some preliminary reductions of pressure upon carbonated water delivered to them by valve 20 at 34 F. under a carbonator pressure of approximately 100 psi. Preferably, the canbonated water is discharged into the plenum 34 at an angle of 45 to the plane thereof and the plenum has a substantial depth to provide a quieting eifect on the water received therein.

The radial spacing between the sleeves 36 may vary from .001" to .002". The preferred spacing is .015. With the spacing considered at .002" for the five passages 38 the total flow area throughout passages 38 is approximately .022 of a square inch. Each successive space increasing in flow area almost .001 of a square inch, namely, from .003 to .005 of a square inch for said total of .022

square inch. The radial spacing between the sleeves assures a non-turbulent flow therethrough with minimum shear friction on the parallel walls with the spacing of the walls close enough to provide a capillary action, which in the direction of gravity is helpful. Then when the draft arm value is closed the carbonated water is held in the passages 28 by capillary action which does not perrnit CO gas to collect and levitate in bubbles. Such retains the CO and water in intimate relationship immediately ready for the next beverage dispensing cycle. This substantially eliminates drip which can be interpreted as waste, yet provides a gravity fall effect for the carbonated water with the least turbulence possible.

The flow area at the circumference of the space 40 with a vertical opening of .015" is approximately .040 square inch with the flow area adequately increasing progressively outwardly for receiving the outflow successively from passages 38 as they add their outflow thereto. Such provides a substantially full flow of highly carbonated water with a quick dispensing cycle for each beverage.

Thus, it will be observed that the total flow area of the sleeve passages 38 range from two to four times the flow area of the supply or discharge passages 28 and 40, respectively, so that the flow rate therethrough is comparatively slow for the quantity of carbonated water con- I ducted. This greatly reduces the shear friction that would otherwise be expected with walls so close.

This by way of example indicates the desired ratios among the serially connected passageway portions with a range of drill sizes from to 7 for the two conduits 28. Accordingly, with initial flow through conduits 28 considered to be unity, the flow areas progressively double with the shear frictional characteristics of the volume of water along solid walls in the intermediate passages 38 reduced at least a third from that which would be present with drilled holes of that size totalling the same flow area, if drilled holes could be drilled that small economically. Thus an added advantage is present of avoiding the turbulence that occurs with tube flow.

The invention theoretically is to establish a constant flow rate, i.e. a flow restricted to a constant before applying a light shear frictional non-turbulent flow so that all velocity change is eliminated during the time the pressure upon the carbonated water is being dropped to zero gauge pressure. Then, when the rate of flow is established such is maintained between closely spaced surfaces in which secondary turbulence factors are eliminated in favor of straight line flow so that the flow becomes equivalent to gravity induce flow before the water leaves a close confinement that restricts the ebullition of CO Having thus described the inventive concept, an embodiment thereof and the relationship of the elements accomplishing the purposes and objects of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art how various and further embodiments can be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carbonated water dispenser comprising a head, having a downwardly opening cavity defining a plenum at the top thereof, a valved conduit means of substantial length for conducting carbonated water to said plenum, a plurality of concentric sleeves supported in said cavity having a radial spacing from each other of a few thousandths of an inch to define vertically disposed passages therethrough, a bottom support member for said sleeves disposed directly below said passages, and means for collecting the carbonated water discharged from the lower ends of said passages including a nozzle carried by said body located close to and below the marginal edge of said support member for draining said carbonated water to a point of use.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which the spacing between adjacent sleeve walls is approximately .002 of an inch with a flow area approximately twice that of said valved conduit means.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 in which the length of said sleeves is approximately the average of their diameters with the flow area of said conduit means within the range of one-fourth to one-half the total flow area through said sleeves.

4. A carbonated water dispenser comprising a head, having a downwardly opening cavity defining a plenum at the closed end thereof, a valved conduit means of substantial length for supplying carbonated water to said plenum at a predetermined constant rate of flow, a plurality of concentric sleeves supported in said cavity having a radial spacing from each other of substantially a couple thousandths of an inch to define vertically disposed passages therethrough of uniform flow areas throughout their lengths, a bottom support for said sleeves disposed directly below said passages and spaced from said sleeves approximately one to two hundredths of an inch to provide a radially widening passageway collecting the carbonated water flowing from the lower ends of said passages and releasing same to gravity flow over its marginal edge.

5.'The combination called for in claim 4 including a nozzle carried by said body defining converging walls located close to and below the marginal edge of said support member for collecting and draining said carbonated water from said support member to a point of use.

6. The combination called for in claim 4 in which said valved conduit means discharges into said plenum at an angle approximately 45 to the axis of said sleeves.

7. The combination called for in claim 4 in which the flow area of said conduit means is approximately onehalf the fiow area of said passages.

8. A carbonated water dispenser comprising a head having a downwardly opening cavity defining a plenum within an internally threaded wall, a threaded opening in said plenum, a hollow stud threaded in said opening, a plurality of concentric sleeves closing the open end of said plenum defining a plurality of passages of uniform cross-sectional flow area through their length between adjacent walls of said sleeves, a bottom support for said sleeves supported on said stud a distance from the lower ends of said sleeves of approximately a couple hundredths of an inch, and nozzle means supported on said threaded wall and having converging side walls enclosing the lower ends of said sleeves, stud and bottom support.

9. The method of reducing the pressure upon carbonated water from a predetermined pressure to atmospheric pressure comprising restricting the flow of carbonated water to a predetermined flow rate at a reduced pressure, conducting said carbonated water at a reduced rate of flow within the range of one-fourth to one-half said predetermined rate of flow through conduits of uniform cross-sectional flow areas throughout their lengths between Walls whose spacing is approximately .00 2 of an inch under the influence of capillary action, and releasing said carbonated water to gravity flow as said carbonated water leaves said conduits.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

20 M. MAR, Assistant Examiner. 

